BACK AT IT
Since 15 November: 70 hours 12 minutes, 649.2 kilometers
Weight: 76 kilos
The week after the failed first attempt at finishing a marathon, I did not train. Only in the weekend, when we were with my family on the lovely island of Texel, did I run a few kilometers.
Since, I have picked it up again. I have to, as the 15k of Bruges is now only a week away. And I've set myself a cautious speed target: finish in less then 90 minutes. Last year I took 93 minutes and a bit, so it should be doable.
Secretly I hope to get close to 85 minutes. After all, I'm much better trained than I was a year ago.
Sunday, 29 April 2007
Monday, 16 April 2007
THE MADNESS CONTINUES
Apparently close to half of the runners did not finish yesterday's marathon in Rotterdam. I may not have been in good company, but I was in a crowd. Some other telling statistics: 125 people were put on drips along the track, 30 were hospitalised - runners and spectators - for hyperthermia and heart problems. Reanimation was necessary in two cases.
People like me would still have had to run / walk for over two hours after the race was "neutralised". Eventhough the last bit was more shaded, it would have meant a much higher number of victims.
One thing that many runners do not appreciate is the starting time. Rotterdam starts at 11am, whereas most other big marathons begin earlier, thus avoiding the hottest part of the day. Much be commercial reasons; revenues from live TV take priority over the health of competitors.
It was really sickening to see the organiser on TV claim that there was, contrary to what people say, no shortage of water at the drinking stations. Get real and face up, Mr Organiser! I was there running and the first station, after 5k with no shade, was completely dry. Not a drop. Believe me, we searched every corner of the stalls. At all following stations there were buckets of water, but no clean cups or sponges. I was forced, like thousands of others, to pick up dirty cups and drinks from them.
So that was it, then.
But wait a sec... Are you kidding? I just registered for the Amsterdam marathon, on 21 oktober. Hopefully the weather will be kinder, and at least I'll be able to train for higher temperatures.
I can't just give up, can I? Moreover, Amsterdam is what feels closest to a home town for me. I've never been a fan of Rotterdam anyway.
After the 20k of Brussels, on 27 May, I will start working on a training routine that'll get me through my second attempt in better shape. Again, there'll be almost five months to prepare. And that's on top of what I built up for Rotterdam already.
Apparently close to half of the runners did not finish yesterday's marathon in Rotterdam. I may not have been in good company, but I was in a crowd. Some other telling statistics: 125 people were put on drips along the track, 30 were hospitalised - runners and spectators - for hyperthermia and heart problems. Reanimation was necessary in two cases.
People like me would still have had to run / walk for over two hours after the race was "neutralised". Eventhough the last bit was more shaded, it would have meant a much higher number of victims.
One thing that many runners do not appreciate is the starting time. Rotterdam starts at 11am, whereas most other big marathons begin earlier, thus avoiding the hottest part of the day. Much be commercial reasons; revenues from live TV take priority over the health of competitors.
It was really sickening to see the organiser on TV claim that there was, contrary to what people say, no shortage of water at the drinking stations. Get real and face up, Mr Organiser! I was there running and the first station, after 5k with no shade, was completely dry. Not a drop. Believe me, we searched every corner of the stalls. At all following stations there were buckets of water, but no clean cups or sponges. I was forced, like thousands of others, to pick up dirty cups and drinks from them.
So that was it, then.
But wait a sec... Are you kidding? I just registered for the Amsterdam marathon, on 21 oktober. Hopefully the weather will be kinder, and at least I'll be able to train for higher temperatures.
I can't just give up, can I? Moreover, Amsterdam is what feels closest to a home town for me. I've never been a fan of Rotterdam anyway.
After the 20k of Brussels, on 27 May, I will start working on a training routine that'll get me through my second attempt in better shape. Again, there'll be almost five months to prepare. And that's on top of what I built up for Rotterdam already.
Sunday, 15 April 2007
NOT
The title of this blog stays.
Just my luck: today was the hottest April day on record in the Netherlands. They measures 28.7 celsius in the home town of the Meteorological Society, De Bilt. Beat the previous high by almost a full degree.
Running (and sometimes walking) along two-thirds of the track, I found no shade from the ruthless sun.
The race organisers were smart and brave enough to stop the marathon after a bit over three hours. There's a point in the circuit, at about 28k, where you are very close to the finish. From this point, they now led all runners traffic straight to the recovery area after the finish line. I got there at 3:13.
So now I still do not know whether I can do a full marathon. Need to think a bit. It's tempting to schedule another attempt in autumn (Amsterdam or Brussels).
Pity, though. Been training for it, off and on, for five months.
The title of this blog stays.
Just my luck: today was the hottest April day on record in the Netherlands. They measures 28.7 celsius in the home town of the Meteorological Society, De Bilt. Beat the previous high by almost a full degree.
Running (and sometimes walking) along two-thirds of the track, I found no shade from the ruthless sun.
The race organisers were smart and brave enough to stop the marathon after a bit over three hours. There's a point in the circuit, at about 28k, where you are very close to the finish. From this point, they now led all runners traffic straight to the recovery area after the finish line. I got there at 3:13.
So now I still do not know whether I can do a full marathon. Need to think a bit. It's tempting to schedule another attempt in autumn (Amsterdam or Brussels).
Pity, though. Been training for it, off and on, for five months.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
TOMORROW
They predict temperatures of over 25 degrees! Normal marathons start at 9am, and then these temperatures are doable. But Rotterdam, with a 11am start, is going to be sheer hell.
I won't force myself too much. If I cannot finish, then at least I'll have tried. And I'll try again.
Would save me the trouble of having to rename my blog, too.
Good luck, me!
They predict temperatures of over 25 degrees! Normal marathons start at 9am, and then these temperatures are doable. But Rotterdam, with a 11am start, is going to be sheer hell.
I won't force myself too much. If I cannot finish, then at least I'll have tried. And I'll try again.
Would save me the trouble of having to rename my blog, too.
Good luck, me!
Friday, 13 April 2007
THAT'LL BE IT THEN
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 50 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 588.2 kilometers
Time left: 2 days
I'm done training. Nothing left but being prudent with food and drink stuffs, trying to sleep well, relax, stretch a bit. I don't feel well prepared, but maybe that comes with a first marathon. And I should stop comparing myself with people who brag on their blogs about rourinely running 160 kilometers weekly. Even if it's true, at least I still have a life.
My train leaves at 6:44, so I'll have to get up real early for the two-hours-plus ride to Rotterdam. Once there, I'll have to pick up my numbers and other stuff. Then get changed, and then... Wait, dribble a bit, wait, find my Pacing Team, wait some more, get nervous, try not to get too nervous, and just generally wait impatiently for the thing to start.
The start is at 11am. They predict real warm wheather (compared to recent weeks), seriously over 20 degrees Celsius, and I'm not trained for that. I'll drink as much as I can and protect my skull with a pirate hanky. But still: assuming I take between 4 and 5 hours for the marathon, the hardest part will come at the hottest time of a hot day. Not looking forward to that...
(Note to myself: bring sunblock!)
My strategy is simple: try to stay with the Pacing Team as long as possible. If I manage to stick with them for the first 30 kilometers, I'll have enough time left to finish at my own pace: 1 hour 35 minutes for the last 12 kilometers.
That does not take into account the 195 meters that lie between the 42k point and finish. But then, if I get there this last bit will be heaven. It'll hurt, like all of it beyond the halfway point. But finishing must be pure bliss.
And then I get on a train back, try to make it home, collapse but with a good and well-deserved Leffe Brune. Followed by two days of extreme pain in my legs and back, slowly morphing into stiffness.
That's how I imagine it to be. If I finish.
Alright then, bring it on!
Weight: 76 kilos
Time spent running since 15 November: 63 hours 50 minutes
Distance run since 15 November: 588.2 kilometers
Time left: 2 days
I'm done training. Nothing left but being prudent with food and drink stuffs, trying to sleep well, relax, stretch a bit. I don't feel well prepared, but maybe that comes with a first marathon. And I should stop comparing myself with people who brag on their blogs about rourinely running 160 kilometers weekly. Even if it's true, at least I still have a life.
My train leaves at 6:44, so I'll have to get up real early for the two-hours-plus ride to Rotterdam. Once there, I'll have to pick up my numbers and other stuff. Then get changed, and then... Wait, dribble a bit, wait, find my Pacing Team, wait some more, get nervous, try not to get too nervous, and just generally wait impatiently for the thing to start.
The start is at 11am. They predict real warm wheather (compared to recent weeks), seriously over 20 degrees Celsius, and I'm not trained for that. I'll drink as much as I can and protect my skull with a pirate hanky. But still: assuming I take between 4 and 5 hours for the marathon, the hardest part will come at the hottest time of a hot day. Not looking forward to that...
(Note to myself: bring sunblock!)
My strategy is simple: try to stay with the Pacing Team as long as possible. If I manage to stick with them for the first 30 kilometers, I'll have enough time left to finish at my own pace: 1 hour 35 minutes for the last 12 kilometers.
That does not take into account the 195 meters that lie between the 42k point and finish. But then, if I get there this last bit will be heaven. It'll hurt, like all of it beyond the halfway point. But finishing must be pure bliss.
And then I get on a train back, try to make it home, collapse but with a good and well-deserved Leffe Brune. Followed by two days of extreme pain in my legs and back, slowly morphing into stiffness.
That's how I imagine it to be. If I finish.
Alright then, bring it on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)